Mathematically, the loss didn't hurt as much as it seemed. New York still controls its own destiny, and can clinch a playoff berth -- and leave last Sunday in its rear-view window -- with a victory Sunday in Green Bay.

But mentally? Well, that may be another story. The Giants were a beaten team -- both on the scoreboard and between their ears -- as they walked off the field last Sunday, so much so that

Eli Manning
called a team meeting on Monday for the first time in his career.

So, can the Giants pick up the pieces in time to salvage a season that through 14 weeks and three quarters seemed so promising?

Thomas George:
It may take them two games, winning at Washington the following week and maybe slipping in that way. I know the entire focus in their building since Monday was like a bunker with steel walls, a real attempt at that mental makeover. Only at kickoff will we know.

Chris Harry:
I think they bounce back. That locker room has a lot of veterans who were part of a Super Bowl team. The head coach, too. Obviously, players play the game, but the staff didn't do the players any favors by calling all those blitzes when all they had to do was back things up and try to avoid the home-run plays. The
Packers
bring a different matchup. I think the Giants will go to Lambeau and play well. And win. If they don't, the season-ender in Washington will be a gimme.

McManamon:
Green Bay played well in New England. It looks like they will have Rodgers back. They're at home. They need it as much as the Giants, who are a mess. Green Bay wins.

George:
They preach in the
NFL
that it is 16 games, one at a time. The
Jets
had 45-3. They couldn't bounce right back and lost to Miami, then handled Pittsburgh. The Giants really have to fight and push through to manage a top game on Sunday at Green Bay. They do have the type of team, though, that at times responds to adversity. It's been their identity for a while now with
Tom Coughlin
. And even with
Jim Fassel
before.

The Eagles seem to be having one of those magic-carpet-ride seasons.

McManamon:
I agree. The Eagles are on a magic carpet ride. But how interesting will it be if they have to go to Atlanta to play the Falcons in the playoffs?

Dan Graziano:
Michael Vick back in Atlanta. Think they could sell that ticket?
George:
Their season took off when Vick was awarded the starting job. Coaches think they manage everything. But often the players amongst themselves decide what they are going to do and how much of it with what leader. Look at the tailspin the Titans were in after
Vince Young
.
Jeff Fisher
made the decision, but the players had something to say about it with their play. These Eagles players are excited to play with Vick. They truly admire and respect his talent and leadership. It goes a long way.

Harry:
Seen those kinds of seasons before. Patriots had one three years ago. It ended with disappointment in the Super Bowl. Saints were on one last year, lost the last three games than climbed back out the rug for the postseason. Who knows? I think the real magic is with the quarterback. His story gets better and better.
Graziano:
I think
Andy Reid
deserves coach of the year for what he did with Vick. How about that?

George:
And Vick is MVP.
McManamon:
What about the fact Reid might not have played Vick as much as he has without
Kevin Kolb
's concussion. As for MVP, I stick with
Tom Brady
.

Graziano:
The MVP race is closer, for me, because Brady's played every game. But two more weeks could change my mind.

Harry:
I agree with Thomas. The MVP that we all but gave out a week ago is back in play. It's a two-horse race between Brady and Vick now. Wide open again.

"The MVP that we all but gave out a week OK is back in play. It's a two-horse race between Brady and Vick now. Wide open again." - Chris HarryGraziano:
I still think it's Brady because they totally changed the offense around him midstream and he's having maybe the best year of his career in spite of that.

McManamon:
I go with Brady ... though it's very close. We always remember the last performance, and Vick's was off the charts. But check Brady's touchdowns and interceptions ... and he's doing it with less talent on the team than Vick has.

George:
I think Vick because of his devastating impact. Brady's is outstanding, Vick's is devastating.

Harry:
Brady had a better year in '07.

Graziano:
Yes, Chris, but given the difference in the supporting cast from that year to this year, I think you can argue he's playing even better now.
George:
But really, just ask any defensive coordinator today, who do you not want to play in a one-game shot for it all? Right now? I think Vick wins that.

Might as well stay in the NFC East. It's kind of obvious Mike Shanahan has to work on his people skills. He got a pass on Albert Haynesworth because he was inherited, but Donovan McNabb is a guy he went out and traded for. Does Shanahan have any clue what he's doing in Washington? Graziano:
I'm sure he has more than a clue, but the bedside manner leaves a lot to be desired here. McNabb surely didn't do anything to deserve being embarrassed. I have a lot of respect for Shanahan, but he seems too concerned with making sure everybody knows it's his way or the highway, and not concerned enough with managing his people.

George:
I think he took a shot with McNabb. He liked what he saw from afar. Up close, uh, nope. It was risk/reward, as most NFL moves are. He will quickly move forward. He already has. And
Dan Synder
will give him the time to do it.

McManamon:
That's a loaded question. It seems like Shanahan is establishing his turf, cementing his authority if you will. He's challenging the highest paid, most prominent guys, and establishing that when he tears the team down and starts to build all over again the guys he gets will do it his way or they won't be in Washington.

George:
Remember, that guts of that roster was built by
Vinny Cerrato
and
Jim Zorn
. Choices were made that Shanahan would not have made. It takes more than 14 games to fix that.
Graziano:
But he did bring in McNabb. Why embarrass him? I can see wanting to make a change if you don't like the way the guy is playing, but what did he do to deserve this kind of treatment?

George:
I think McNabb is 5-8. He has more picks than touchdowns. He embarrassed himself.
Harry:
If he was trying to tear down and build up to his liking, why would he have traded two premium picks for a 33-year-old quarterback? Shanahan thought he could win right away. Now, he has to deconstruct then reconstruct a roster -- and
that
is not his strength. Redskins are in trouble, but they've been in trouble and will always be in trouble as long as Snyder owns the team. The work environment is toxic there.

McManamon:
I don't get why benching a guy embarrasses him. Isn't that part of the game? You don't play well, team doesn't win, somebody else takes over. If Shanahan comes out after the season and says McNabb was not the answer and he has to start over, he's bought himself two extra years because it will take that long to get "his" guys.

Graziano:
I'm not talking about the benching per se, but again, the bedside manner. Why all the talk about him being out of shape, not knowing the 2-minute drill? The guy came in and played behind a lousy line with no receivers and no running game. Sure, he's part of the problem, but does he deserve to be made to look like the biggest scapegoat?

McNabb seems to get a pass because is a classy, stand-up guy, but he sure seems to leave a trail of less-than-enamored teammates and coaches around him.

Harry:
McNabb gets credit for that, but he's been terrible this year. His supporting cast is not very good, but all those skipping and sailing passes are a big part of that 5-8.

George:
Many Eagles will tell you that Donovan often has to get out of Donovan's way to succeed. I think the Redskins have seen that. I think he should have worked harder to first master the offensive calls and then conduct the offense the way he was asked.

Let's move to another franchise that seems to be devoid of a clue: Why are the Vikings still marching Brett Favre out there? "(The Vikings) really thought he could do it again. And even when they see he can't -- that the Favre of 2010 is nowhere near the one from 2009 -- they are still blinded by the allure of the legend." - Thomas GeorgeGeorge:
Ridiculous.
Graziano:
I suspect Favre himself has a lot to do with that, no?
McManamon:
They played Favre because he was their best chance to win, even at 50 percent.

Graziano:
Yeah that guy
Joe Webb
has a big arm but no idea where the ball is going.

But at what point to you say, OK, Year Two failed, it's time to build for the future?

McManamon:
Fair question ... this would indicate to me that they don't believe Webb is the future, or they believed he was woefully not ready. So they played Favre.
George:
They really thought he could do it again. And even when they see he can't -- that the Favre of 2010 is nowhere near the one from 2009 -- they are still blinded by the allure of the legend. They are stuck as a franchise and a prime example of how important it is to build inside out at quarterback, to always groom one of your own.

Harry:
Said this last week and will say it again: no one would care about the Vikings if he wasn't playing. The owner is paying the guy
huge
money, so he might as well get what he can out of it. Plus, clearly Favre wants to play this out -- and he's been their best option all season. As for building for the future, Webb is not that guy and you can't "rebuild" in December of a lost season.

Graziano:
Problem is, as I understand it, was that Childress was the guy in the organization who was highest on
Tarvaris Jackson
. So
Leslie Frazier
may not see him as the future. Also, Jackson got himself hurt.

McManamon:
Agree with Dan. At this point it does not seem like the Vikings know their future.

George:
Jackson deserved better in 2010. More than a handful of plays.

The Vikings will go into the offseason looking for, at the very least, a head coach, a quarterback and a stadium. Has any team fallen faster in the span of one calendar year?

George:
I think the quote of the year came from
Chad Ochocinco
. He was asked recently about the merits of things getting "shook up" in Cincinnati. And he answered: "It depends on who's doing the shaking and who gets shook." Wow, that's priceless.

Harry:
Cardinals too, but their reasons are far more concrete.

George:
All of the teams in the AFC North applauded the Bengals for finally understanding last season that they had to become a run-first team and pound it and lead with
Cedric Benson
. They went undefeated in the division. Then they get
Terrell Owens
and try to become a passing team first. Really dumb move.

McManamon:
Do any of us not expect the Vikings to use the Metrodome roof as a chance to look for a new home, i.e., Los Angeles?

Harry:
Yes on Los Angeles.

The Jets' season gets more bizarre by the minute. Rex Ryan's wife has a foot fetish? By saying, "it's a personal matter," don't you essentially say that the allegations are true? Graziano:
Sure, but so what?

McManamon:
Yes, it evidently is true. But it's a personal matter.

Harry:
I'm beyond proud to be taking part in the first NFL Roundtable in history to discuss foot fetishes.

McManamon:
It's a personal matter.

George:
Let's just say both have decided where the emphasis in the game of FOOTball lies.

OK ... what teams currently in the playoffs, will not be in the playoffs?

Graziano:
Agree on Giants. And the
Chiefs
.
Harry:
Rams.
Graziano:
The Giants are soft on defense, have been for two years and will lose to Aaron Rodgers and the Packers this week. The Chargers are better than the Chiefs and have two weeks to catch them. Should be all they need.
McManamon:Colts
, because the
Raiders
will run on them this weekend and beat them. And the Giants, because they lost two games on that DeSean Jackson punt return.

George:
Rams have San Francisco at home and then are at Seattle. I think they likely lose both.

Graziano:
Giants are bullies. They beat up weaker teams but can't take a punch.

Harry:
The NFC West is a four-car pileup. Something tells me it'll come down to the
Seahawks
and Rams at Qwest in the last game of the season.